Tombstone, The Biosphere, Taliesin West, Red Rocked
Sedona, Painted Desert,
Jerome Mining, Verde
Canyon, Tuzigoot, Meteor
Crater, Petrified
forest,Grand Canyon. We
want to do it ALL.
We have to stop a few times on the way out of the Canyon. We didn't plan to, but just a look turned into a few do you want to stop heres? Our last stop, then heading south . Sunset Crater is a low-keyed one mile loop trail thru the lava fields. You pick up a reusable map that describes what you are seeing. The Crater is in view during most of the loop, but has been off limits to hikers for years. Too much tourism wore it down. The price for the loop and viewing all that grey matter is $5 per person. Headed south to Phoenix, but John says he knows of this cave dwelling place. Now we are interested. First we're stopping at Sunset Crater Volcano, just north of Flagstaff. We've done this one, but John wants to see the lava flows, so we stop. It's only a 30 minute self guided walk through the lava beds. Then we're headed to Walnut Canyon. We've passed this area a few times but never stopped. John has a National Park Pass, so we are good to go. We decide on the Island Trail, which descends 185 into the canyon. There are 25 cliff dwelling rooms on this path. A total of 80 dwellings are in the canyon but not all are accessable. This is the best trail to experience the park. We're warned that it is a strenous one mile tour, as there are 240 steps back up the hillside. Going down you realize you are in a "horse-shoe" shaped cliff area. The Sinagua built their homes 900 years ago on the inside of the horseshoe, in the upper parts of the cliffs, beneath the rocky ledges. They only built on south facing cliffs to take advantage of solar energy to heat their homes. On the way out we stopped at the waterfountain to taste water pumped up from a well 2000 feet below ground. With the heat, and the climb, it tasted darn good. The museum is worth a quick look. Sinagua pottery is on display along with some other items. Many of the artifacts had been looted by the locals during the early 1900's. We had planned to do Montezuma's Castle but it's getting a little late in the afternoon, and everything is closing. We check in to the hotel, then out to dinner. Where has all the time gone?
1 vote 
